What is a hallucination?
A hallucination is when someone sees something, either an image, or distortion of certain objects because of visual perception. There are many different types of hallucinations such as; visual, auditory, command hallucinations, olfactory, tactile hallucinations, gustatory, and general somatic sensations. Hallucination is a visual perception with the absence of external visual stimuli.

Relation to light and optics;
Hallucinations are experienced by someone seeing light without the light actually entering the eye, this can happen because of many eye defects where clouding of the eye takes place or anything that may prevent one from seeing clearly. In some cases hallucinations are similar to mirages, how the light reflects off the different layers or temperatures of air creating inverted or imagined images that seem to be real.

How do they work?
All of the different types and forms of hallucinations work in different ways but are all based on the same concept of light, the light rays will either reflect different, be seen in flashes and sometimes create patterns. Wherever the light rays may be a hallucination is created by your mind, you think you see something that may be just a shadow but your brain functions will cause imagery to enhance the image making it seem real.

Causes of hallucinations;
There are many different causes, which are known as a disturbance of brain structure, a disturbance of neurotransmitters, and meaningful experiences consciousness. Hallucinating can also be caused by Alzheimer’s disease as well as many other psychotic disorders and sometimes are even associated with drug and alcohol abuse.


Bibliography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucination
http://www.migraine-aura.org/content/e27891/e27265/e26585/e49268/index_en.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed-eye_hallucination
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucination

-Bobbi